May 10, 2012

Grail-like Glucagon

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LATITUDE Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (LPI) announced today that its scientists have developed the first ever, ready-to-inject, stable liquid glucagon formulation (Nano-G). A glucagon formulation with these properties had been a highly sought after Holy Grail of drug developers for decades.

Currently, glucagon is indicated for emergency treatment of insulin-induced hypoglycemia and as a diagnostic aid for radiological examinations. Researchers have long been interested in evaluating glucagon for hypoglycemia prevention, the bi-hormonal insulin/glucagon pump and the treatment of obesity but have been thwarted by the absence of a stable injectable glucagon formulation.

Glucagon is a notoriously insoluble and unstable molecule and is therefore provided as a dried powder. Before use, the glucagon is dissolved in an acid solution by following a cumbersome, eight-step procedure that becomes an outsized task during life-threatening hypoglycemia.

Glucagon, while useful stuff, kind of fall short of my Holy Grail Test. Sure cures fall into Grail status. I think prevention would come real close too. I have also written about side orders to go with the grail like some basic integration of management tools. We each seek our own Grail and I am happy that stable liquid glucagon was someone's.

I am a big fan of progress. Automation in the prevention of hypos would be progress. There are smart smart folks working to AP projects. That is great. For me this is better and Better is Better. Dual hormone pumps with very good logic tools to support them is better. Staying in range more of the time is better. Glucose responsive insulins that make hypos history would be that much more.

The Grail? Cures. Not a cure, Cures. 'cause I know enough about type 1 diabetes to know that one size doesn't fit all. I also know enough to know progress is one step at a time.

Mostly I know this about Grails, nobody ever find them (except for Sean Connery & Harrison Ford.) When you find what you thought may be a Grail you discover a new passion.